CompTIA Data+ (DA0-002)VisualizationMedium
A data analyst is building a dashboard for a product manager to track the usage of different features within a software application. The product manager needs to see the total daily active users (DAU) and how that total is composed of users engaging with Feature A, Feature B, and Feature C over the last month. The visualization should clearly show the changing proportion of users for each feature relative to the total DAU. Which chart type would BEST represent this data?
- AGrouped Bar Chart
- BPie Chart
- CLine Chart
- DStacked Area Chart
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Stacked Area Chart
A stacked area chart is ideal for showing how the composition of a total (DAU) changes over time. Each colored area represents the contribution of a specific feature, stacking up to form the total, making it easy to see both the total trend and the proportional changes of its components.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A grouped bar chart compares discrete values across categories but is less effective at showing proportional changes within a total over time.
- B. A pie chart shows proportions at a single point in time, not changes over time.
- C. A line chart shows individual trends but doesn't easily convey the changing proportion of components within a total.
Stacked Area Chart
A chart that displays the contribution of multiple data series to a total over time, with each series represented by a colored area stacked on top of others.
- Shows how the composition of a total changes over time.
- Useful for visualizing proportional contributions and overall trends.
- Can become hard to read if there are too many series or if values fluctuate rapidly.
Memory trick: Stacked mountains show parts growing over time.